BENCHIKH, Osman
Chief of Section, Innovation and Capacity Building in Science and Engineering, UNESCO
Dr Osman Benchikh is Doctor in Physics, graduated at “Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie de Paris”.
Dr Benchikh is member of UN-Energy and represents UNESCO therein. He is member of the “Governing Board” of the “International Sustainable Energy Development Centre” (ISEDC) in Moscow launched as Centres under the auspices of UNESCO. Dr Benchikh is author of several publications on renewable energies and launched several initiatives addressing the use and application of renewable energy sources to achieve the access to sustainable energy for all and sustainable development targets. In promoting a wide use and application of renewable energy sources at a global level, he contributed to the design and implementation of the World Solar Programme and was member of its coordination secretariat. He also initiated the conceptual framework for building capacities and knowledge base known as the “Global Renewable Energy Education and Training Programme” and published various teaching materials. Dr Benchikh initiated the “Regional Solar Councils” as frameworks for regional and international cooperation in renewable energy. His international activities led him to act as the Secretary General of the “Mediterranean Solar Council”; member of the “European Solar Council”; Chairman of the “European Solar Council Commission on Education and Training” (Club de Paris des Energies Renouvelables); member of the “Arab Permanent Committee on Renewable Energies”; member of GEMFOR (International Study Group on Education Methods) and member of the “International Advisory Council of the World Renewable Energy Technology Congress”.
ABSTRACT
16:30-18:00 6 NOVEMBER
thematic SESSION IiI.A: RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY
Modern energy services are essential for meeting basic human needs, reducing poverty and sustaining advances in social development. Globally over 1.3 billion people remain without access to electricity and more than 95% of these people are either in sub-Saharan Africa or developing Asia. Energy is also at the heart of climate change mitigation. As energy demand continues to grow, the ability to address energy issues, including energy access, efficiency, renewables, low carbon technologies and security, will be paramount in enabling climate change priorities to be met in a mutually reinforcing way.
Recognizing that access to energy services in developing countries is essential for the achievement of the MDGs and sustainable development, which would help to reduce poverty, the UN General Assembly declared 2014-2024 International Decade of “Sustainable Energy for All” (SE4ALL). Furthermore, the last session of the UN General Assembly (Sept. 2015) adopted a new set of SDGs which includes energy: “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” (Goal 7).
Responding to the challenges of SE4ALL requires increased use of locally available renewable energy sources. It also calls for building a knowledge base, disseminating relevant technical and scientific knowledge, and promoting appropriate energy policies and choices as a foundation for increased use and application of the various environmentally sound energy technologies and their adaptation to different contexts and fields of application.